The Infectious Diseases
(Prevention) Act, 1889, compelled local authorities to isolate
infectious patients to prevent the spread of disease.

The Kingston Rural Sanitary Authority proposed to purchase
a plot of land in Red Lion Lane on which to build an isolation
hospital. The plan was fiercely opposed at two public meetings on
the grounds that the land was a swamp and therefore unsuitable.
Nearby residents feared that an isolation hospital would devalue
their properties, while concern was expressed for the cattle in the
area and the many children who lived in the Lane.

However the Rural Sanitary Authority prevailed. It purchased the 1 hectare site and work began on the building.

The Tolworth Isolation Hospital opened in 1889 with 22 beds.

In 1906 the Hospital was extended. A 12-bedded cubicle block was
built, the second of its type in the country. The Hospital then
had 40 beds.

In 1925, 1932 and 1935 adjacent land was purchased, increasing the size
of the plot to 9 acres (3.6 hectares). More buildings were added,
so that patients with scarlet fever, enteric fever or diphtheria could
be better isolated. These included an isolation block with 10
cubicle beds and one with 20 pavilion beds, additional
administrative buildings and a Nurses' Home.

The newest blocks were opened on 27th July 1935 by Alderman J. Chuter,
Chairman of Surrey County Council. The new wards contained 10 beds
each and were entirely lit by three ceiling pendant lights 9 ft 9
in (3 metres) from the floor. Beside each bed was a power socket
for the doctor's lamp and a wireless (radio). The Hospital then had 110
beds.

During WW2 the Hospital suffered damage from two high explosive bombs
on 17th November 1940. One fell on the driveway and one on a
ward. Amazingly, only two people were slightly injured, but the
ward was damaged beyond repair.

In 1948 the Hospital joined the NHS under the control of the Kingston
Group Hospital Management Committee, part of the South West
Metropolitan Regional Health Board. By this time it had been more
or less abandoned because of the lack of patients - of its 112 beds,
only about 12 were open.

The Hospital Management Committee gradually redeveloped the site, but
two blocks were too badly damaged to be reopened so were pulled down.
The Hospital then had 92 beds.

By 1955 it had 104 beds - 18 for the chronically sick, 18 for
infectious diseases patients, 24 for children (in cubicles of 2 cots
each) and 44 for TB patients.

The chronic wards were old-fashioned with no bedpan washer, but half
the patients were wheeled to the WC or used a sanitary chair. The
other half were incontinent, so there was no need for them to use
bedpans.

The children's wards, built in 1910, had their wash basins, WCs and
bathrooms outside the wards in the open air. These were all
glazed with a verandah, so that the sanitary fittings were no longer
outside.

The TB section was divided into male and female wards. The male ward had a Day Room and a solarium on the roof.

By 1960 the Hospital had 104 beds for paediatric, chest and geriatric patients.

It was planned that work to rebuild part of the Hospital would begin in
1965, but the start was delayed until the late 1960s. Many of the
old buildings were demolished and the new modern geriatric wards were
officially opened by Princess Alexandra in February 1969.

In 1974, following a major reorganisation of the NHS, the Hospital came
under the control of the Kingston and Richmond District Health
Authority, part of the South West Thames Regional Health Authority.
It had 168 beds for paediatric and geriatric cases.

In 1982, after another major reorganisation of the NHS, the Hospital
came under the administration of the Kingston and Esher District Health
Authority.

By 1989 it had 127 beds for geriatric patients only.

In 1992, when Long Grove Hospital closed, its remaining patients were transferred to a smaller unit at the Hospital.

In 1994, following the introduction of the 'requisitioner-provider'
system in the NHS, the Hospital came under the management of the
Kingston and District Community NHS Trust. It had 189 beds for
Care of the Elderly.